THE REDWING'S JOURNEY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 50, 27 August 1938, Page 20

THE REDWING'S JOURNEY

"Where have you been all the summer?" the Robin asked the Redwing, as he perched beside him on' the (fence. "Across the North Sea lies a country called Norway," the- Redwing answered, "and it is there, that I spend the summer." Then he described the journey to his native country. "Last spring," he said,."when the days began to. grow ltinger in England I knew that the tune had come to return to the country where I make my home and nest an the birch trees, so I set out with my companions oa this journey. : . "It was daylight. when we started, but whenit grew dark we were over the sea,'.: flying very high. There Was not much wind, but it was against us, and even at that height the air seemed heavy. Day and night we flew northwards. Sometimes there were black clouds above us, and we were wetted with rain, then the rain would cease; and the blackness jmss, and we would find that we had dropped far down.and were near,.the sea. One night, I remember, it was a very quiet sea and the sky had grown clear, sprinkled with brilliant stars which were reflected below us, so that we seemedto be flying between two starry skies, one below and one above. At times-those wha were leading would utter cries'to prevent the others from straggling,,. and from far. and near there would come answering cries. Sometimes as we flew .my eyes would f X would wake to find myself dropping, . and would flutter, and struggle to rise and overtake the others. . ■ ■ "At last a change came—a sudden sense of warmth. < Instead of the moving, gleaming sea beneath us there wa» land, and we dropped like falling stones intft the grass by the shore. Oh the joy to feel the ground under" me; to fold my wings at last, and know that I was Hbmd."

THE RIVALS. (Copied.) I heard a bird at dawn , _ Singing sweetly on a tree That the dew was on the lawn. And the wind was on the leal But I didn't listen to him For he didn't aing to me I I didn't listen to him. For he didn't Bing to me. That the dew was on tho lawn And the wind was.on the leal I was singing at the time Just as prettily as he. I was singing all the time, - Just as prettily as he, About-the dew upOn the lawn ,And the wind upon the Jea.i , .*• So I didn't listen to him ~'.... ,As"he sang upon.a\tree. -,X y>- "' '"'" :"-:; " —JAMES STEPHENS, Found by Shirley Davis..... - . BIRDS. (Original.) ■ - ill'the Wrdi'ln'Blrdisnd ; '■■'■■ • --'• '■' X Live high up In the trees, And through the live-long day They are busy as bees. And when the diy is-gone, Vanished' the setting sun, ".They become silent, _ Their work being done; And when the flrst streaks of Dawn Steal across the sombre sides, • They fill the world with.- radiant eon*, Bidding us arise. "ACE DRUMMOND" (10). petone.

THE BIRD AND THE BOY. (Copied. V Little bird upon the, tree, . Do not look so sad .at me," Though it rains,- though ft blows, Every cheerful person knows, That the clouds so dark today, Soon will fade and pass away; , Little bird- upon the • tree", Do not look so sad at me. .:■ '' " ' "BLUE JAY." Moera. ■-, - . . ■• * • WY PETS. :.. (Original.) -;; I am a.very lucky girl,. ... I have so many pets. But the one I like the very best Is my wee dog, Suzette. She is so sweet and tiny. With long, white, silky hair; She and my black Persian cat . Make such a-.lovely pair.Out in an airy, netted hutch Live Snowwhlte, Bob, and Ray; One is jet black, one ls snow-white. And Bob is silver grey. As well as these I have two dore* That eat from out my hand, And ,when_.we play together We're a mixed but happy band. • ncirk___M_w«> Ngah&urangaii ..._.,. \